I am 27 and experience a muted pain in the chest, usually during exercise, but occasionally at other times. I've taken Nexium for over a week now, but no difference. Sometimes when I bend over I get a sharper pain. Several times, the sharp pain has been so bad I could only breathe shallowly and sit/stand upright. This kept me up all night on a few occasions, since I couldn't recline to sleep!

I'm 120 lbs, eat pretty well, exercise regularly (4-5x per week, heart rate up around 166-172, for about 45-60 min). I've been 3x to doctors and one gave me Motrin, another Nexium, and the other told me it might be digestion. This doesn't make sense since it happens when I wake up when I have no food in the system (but also in afternoon after I've eaten). I have an apppointment with a cardiologist next. What should I get checked for? How can I communicate better with the doctor?

FROM OUR EXPERTS

You are on the right track with seeking additional opinions from physicians regarding your symptoms if you are not satisfied with treatment success. I do recommend you discuss the success/failure of a treatment approach with your physician(s), so they can progress to try something new. It may take a process of elimination before the cause and appropriate treatment for your symptoms can be determined. If your physician recommends a treatment you feel doubtful about, don't hesitate to express your concern so you fully understand the reasoning behind your physician's recommendation. Also, ask about your options and discuss the pros and cons of each with your physician so you can participate in the treatment decision. I hope your upcoming cardiologist appointment sheds some light on your situation.

Chest pain is one of the scariest symptoms a person can have because the first thing we usually think of is a heart attack. Of course, any new chest pain should be considered a medical emergency and checked out right away. But once a heart problem has been ruled out, one of the possibilities your doctor may consider is costochondritis. Costochondritis ((kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It is one of the most common cause of musculoskeletal chest pain. Symptoms: The two main symptoms of costochondritis are pain and tenderness in the chest wall, specifically where the ribs attach to the breastbone.
Pain – The pain of costochondritis is usually described as sharp and/or stabbing, but may also be dull, burning or gnawing. Often the pain gets worse when coughing or taking a deep breath. There may also be some difficulty breathing. The location of the pain can be on either...

Almost every Sunday morning, I wake up early so I can turn on CBS Sunday Morning, which airs informative stories that often last for 6-7 minutes (as opposed to the snapshot you get from watching the evening news). During yesterday’s show, CBS correspondent Martha Teichner reported that eight out of 10 Americans will have debilitating back pain during their lifetime, causing them to have difficulty walking, bending over or even lying down.
This back pain often is called by problems with the disc. One possibility is that the disc is worn out and arthritic; however some people experience a herniated disc, which means the fluid between the discs is squeezed out, thus placing pressure on nerves. "You need to make sure the patient doesn't have tumor or infection, but once you rule those out, you can be confident that you're not going to harm the patient by saying, 'OK, give yourself four to six weeks.'" Harvard Medical School Professor Augustus White told Teichner. The st...

Proper Care of the Body's Shock Absorbers Just like motor oil keeps your car running smoothly, there’s an important fluid that lubricates and nourishes your joints. This substance is called synovial (syn ō vi`al) fluid, and joints that contain it — like your shoulders and hips — are called synovial joints. As you move, sacks of this fluid cushion your knees and elbows against friction, and these sacks are known as bursae (bûr´s∂). When you hear people talk about tennis elbow — outer elbow pain often caused by repetitive motion — they actually have inflamed bursae, which doctors refer to as bursitis. Joint pain can interfere with your physical activity and daily life. The flip side, however, is that as your fitness level increases, joint pain may decrease. Here are some things you can do to encourage both of these desired results: * Warm up before any activity. Try this for your knees: Sit in a chair, and slowly raise your left foot un...

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